Police: Suspect Was Beating His Wife At The Time

The 1-month-old boy was taken to Broward General Medical Center, where he is expected to survive the attack, police said. The infant is recovering from a fractured skull and brain trauma.

His father, Mario Dean James, 36, was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated child abuse and one count of domestic violence battery. James, a native of Jamaica, had no previous arrests, police said.

"This is tragic. There's no defense for that baby, except for his parents," said Sgt. Frank Sousa, spokesman for Fort Lauderdale police. "He should know better than to strike her with her baby in her arms."

James and his wife were arguing when she picked up the baby before 7 a.m. inside their home in the 1000 block of Northeast 15th Avenue, police said. Police did not release the wife's name.

James began slugging his wife across her body "in a fit of rage," an arrest report said. The wife tried to cover the baby with her body to protect him, police said. At least one punch hit the child in the head, police said.

The arrest report didn't state what triggered the alleged assault.

Aside from the injured boy, the couple also were raising two of the boy's siblings.

One of the other children phoned 911, prompting Fort Lauderdale police and paramedics to respond to the home, police said.

The Department of Children and Families has assigned child-protective investigators to the case, said DCF spokesman Mark Riordan.

"The safety of that child is the most important thing," Riordan said of the injured boy.

No child abuse complaints against the family previously had been sent to DCF, Riordan said. The children would stay in their mother's custody if it's determined they are safe with her, he said.

The incident comes just a few weeks after a 2-year-old girl was severely beaten by her mother's boyfriend in Sunrise. That girl, Daniella Vitale, remains in fair condition at Broward General Medical Center.

The man accused of beating her, Joshua Albarracin, 18, was arrested on a charge of child cruelty. He has since been released from the Broward Main Jail on bond.